Dubai hosted the tenth edition of Expand North Star, cementing its reputation as the world’s premier gathering for startups and investors in advanced technologies.
The event brought together over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors managing assets worth US$ 1.1 trillion, showcasing Dubai’s growing influence in digital entrepreneurship.
Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the 2025 edition featured founders from 40 unicorn companies with a combined valuation of US$ 900 billion. UAE-based startups made a strong showing, including 116 Emirati-owned enterprises and 50 participants in the ‘Emaratipreneur’ initiative, highlighting the contributions of emerging Emirati innovators.
Startups from Asia accounted for 41% of participants, followed by Europe (18%), North America (7%), and Latin America (7%). The event welcomed first-time national pavilions from the United States, Syria, Ecuador, and Chile, reflecting its expanding global appeal. India and Brazil marked record participation, with around 300 and 50 startups respectively.
Artificial intelligence led the sectors represented, with 22% of startups specialising in AI, followed by climate tech (13%), healthtech (11%), and fintech (11%). Other sectors included edtech, deep tech, adtech, mobility, cybersecurity, and smart cities.
New features at this year’s event included ScaleX for high-growth tech scaleups, North Star Green Impact highlighting climate innovation, the Deeptech MEA Summit, and the Digital Assets Forum. These additions provided insights into emerging technology trends and investment opportunities.
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s pavilion highlighted the emirate’s digital business environment, showcasing the ‘Launchpad Dubai’ programme and ‘Business in Dubai’ platform, which support company establishment, growth, and Golden Visa issuance.
Expand North Star 2025 reinforced Dubai’s status as a global hub for innovation and technology, fostering collaboration, attracting international investors, and shaping the future of the digital economy.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
